Nibbles – Page 433 – Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog

November 29, 2007

Unconventional wine-making

Grapes? We don’t need no stinkin’ grapes. To make wine, that is.

November 28, 2007

Bringing back a wild relative

Aurochsen. Tarpans. Nazis. Wait, Nazis?

November 28, 2007

Hittite plague explained

Hittites “used infected sheep as biological weapon.”

November 28, 2007

Record-breaking white truffle

A 1.5 kg white truffle has been unearthedÂ near San Miniato. It is a contender for world’s largest truffle ever.

November 27, 2007

Sacred cows

India has lost half its 27 cattle breeds?

1. The COUSIN project aims to conserve (trans situ, no less) and use crop wild relatives in Europe.
2. That “use” part can be tough.
3. But that doesn’t stop the fine people at Aardaia. At least where aardaker (Lathyrus tuberosus) is concerned.
4. From alternative potatoes in the Netherlands to alternative beans in Indonesia. All in the cause of diversification.
5. No need to find an alternative to amaranth in the American SW. Not with devoted chefs on the job.
6. The Iraqi Seed Collective is taking seeds from American genebanks to that country’s diaspora in the US, and eventually back to Iraq itself. Maybe chefs will help.
7. Good thing there are genebank backups, eh?
Published on July 9, 2025